Haven't even started prerequisites yet, can I still smoke weed?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I just went to orientation for nursing, and I haven't even taken my prerequisites yet. I have to take a year of prerequisites. When I start clinicals, will I even be tested? Or will I not be tested until I apply for a job/get a job? I've been really stressed lately and I've been thinking of smoking again. I stopped because I didn't know if I would have the prerequisites or if I was going to community college, where my local one you get right into nursing. And I didn't want to endanger anyone or test positive for drugs. Help!?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

You said you went to orientation, does that mean you've been accepted into a nursing program or was it more of an open informational session?

Most nursing programs drug test at least once at the beginning of the program and many test periodically/randomly throughout. This is usually at the behest of the clinical sites that your school works with, as they are not generally keen on the idea of students caring for patients that the facility is ultimately responsible for while in an altered mental state. And yes, you will very likely be drug tested again when you start your first RN job.

If you aren't smoking currently I don't think starting up now would be a prudent move. Nursing school is stressful - far more so than going through the prerequisites - and you're going to have to learn to deal with the stress without the aid of illicit substances sometime, may as well start now.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

It's all about integrity. If you plan on becoming a member of the nursing profession someday, the professional behavior should start sooner than later.

Do you hear of members of other professions (medicine, education, law, engineering, social work, librarianship) smoking weed? Cut the weed habit if you can. It's unprofessional.

Good luck to you!

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Yeah very much agree on the last two posts and i think if i was your patient i would want someone who is professional and not under the influence of a mind altering substance. I mean my nursing license would be far too precious for me to lose due to a med error or drugs. Its not worth it just quit.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Mental Health.

Quit smoking weed now. Get help to do so if you need it. There are a number of reasons for this. The previous two posters suggested some of them.

In addition, there is the issue of escalation. Of course not everyone who smokes marijuana goes on to harder drugs, but almost everyone who takes hard drugs starts with marijuana. As a nurse you will have relatively access to narcotics and other mind-altering drugs. If you stopped smoking weed recently and now are considering starting again, what will happen when you are stressed out in nursing school and can easily put your hands on stronger substances?

There is a subforum on here called "Nurses / Recovery". This is the description:

Nurses and Recovery is about addictions and recovery. Nurses and other health care professionals can find information, education and support. Posts seeking medical/legal advice relating to criminal history are not allowed. Members must contact their individual State Board of Nursing for that information.

Maybe you'd like to take a look there, maybe ask some questions.

I wish you tons of luck in your chosen career. Give yourself a fair chance to succeed in it. Nursing rocks!

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Develop good habits while you have more leeway. This is a perfect time to introduce new habits to relieve stress instead of reaching for weed as a crutch. Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress and it has other health benefits. There are other relaxation techniques that you can take the time to learn now. A professional finds constructive behavior to be more beneficial both on and off the job. Start now.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

It is never a good idea to smoke and be a nurse. You are playing with fire and will be burned.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

At some hospitals in our area, they won't even hire you if you have nicotine in your system, let alone illegal substances.

My first thought was "why are you even asking this question?" If you're trying to become a professional, act like one. Learn how to cope with your stress. Don't try to escape.

You have no idea just how stressful nursing school really is. I took 17 credits (6 classes) in a single semester during my prereqs and it came no where close to the sheer volume of work & stress of the 1st semester of nursing school.

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My initial instinct is, "Really?"

IMO Smoking pot is a mark of immaturity and lack of professionalism. It will certainly not aid you in your endeavor to become a nurse and if it is illegal in your state you also run the risk of gaining a criminal record because of it. The bad out weighs the good in my opinion.

If it is legal in your state whether through a prescription or widely accepted recreational use, look into your local laws. I know nurses that are weekend binge drinkers but since alcohol goes out of your system faster they don't get in trouble for participating in alcohol use recreationally. Pot, alcohol, whatever it is, in my opinion you should "live the profession" if you want to make the lives and health of others better start at home, ya know?

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Lmao

That is literally all I thought.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Whaaaaaatttttt????????

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.

Dude!!! Soooooo obviously you've CHOSEN to put your ADDICTION in front when you decided to ask this question...don't know what else to say!

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